GolfDigest.com

By Ernie Els
Golf Digest Playing Editor
with Scott Smith
Golf Digest
November 2002

Preswing Basics:
When I get lazy or tired, I get slouchy. My weight goes back on my heels, and I bring my shoulders forward. That poor posture often leads to a backswing in which the club goes too far behind me on the way back and then comes over the top on the way down. So when I set up to the ball, I always tell myself that I'm 6-feet-3, not 5-feet-3. That way my stance is nice and straight up, and I can get the club in the proper position at the top.

I use this drill to practice staying behind the ball. Place a golf ball under your left heel, and swing at three-quarter speed (inset photo on left). Focus on keeping your left side firm, with your weight shifted onto the ball of your left foot as you clear your hips through impact.

Set up with your weight balanced on the balls of your feet. This allows you to swing the club back on a more upright plane, your hands and club swinging up along your foot line. From there all you have to do is drop the club behind the ball and spank the sand. Allow the sole of the sand wedge to do what it is designed to do -- slide under the ball and propel it out on a cushion of sand.

Jennifer Munro Handicap: 20 Greenville, S.C. I tried Ernie's tip, and it makes perfect sense to me. A lot of people say to dig into the sand with your feet to get stable, but when I dig too far down I get too low and end up trying to take out half the sand with my shot. I'm not a great golfer, but I am pretty consistent. On the days when I'm not consistent, it's either my tempo or balance or both. So the first thing I try to get right on any shot is my balance. Ernie has great tempo, too. I watch him play on TV to help me smooth out my own swing.

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